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Exercise 199Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Integration › Riemann integralHigh schoolAdded 2 Nov 2026

Area between a parabola and a line

#area#definite integrals#intersection points

Statement

Compute the area of the region enclosed by the parabola y=x2y=x^2 and the line y=x+2y=x+2.

Hint

Find where the curves meet, and decide which one lies above the other between those points.

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Solution

Intersections. x2=x+2  ⟺  x2−x−2=0  ⟺  (x−2)(x+1)=0x^2=x+2\iff x^2-x-2=0\iff(x-2)(x+1)=0, so x=−1x=-1 or x=2x=2.

Which is on top. At x=0x=0 the line has height 22 and the parabola 00, so the line is above on [−1,2][-1,2].

Area.
∫−12(x+2−x2)dx=[x22+2x−x33]−12=(2+4−83)−(12−2+13)=103+76=92.\int_{-1}^2\left(x+2-x^2\right)dx=\left[\frac{x^2}2+2x-\frac{x^3}3\right]_{-1}^2=\left(2+4-\frac83\right)-\left(\frac12-2+\frac13\right)=\frac{10}3+\frac76=\frac92.

Answer. The area is 92\dfrac92.